Hiring a car in Perpignan

Pick up your hire car at Perpignan airport and prepare to unwind with a bottle of red and some hearty French fare.

60-second guide to Perpignan

in its own head

"France and Spain have fought over us for centuries, basically because we're gorgeous. France won, but we've managed to keep the best bits of both nations."

but more realistically

Yes, there's enough history to keep any budding Simon Schamas happy, but there are also mountains one way, beaches the other and great food whichever way you turn.

the vibe

This is the south of France - slow down. Why rush when there's a bottle of red pleading with you to keep it company at a street side cafe?

the natives

'Frantic' isn't in their vocabulary. The phrase 'take it easy' is, though. Except when they're playing rugby, which is big in these parts, when they'll happily eat you alive.

the weather

It's colder than you'd think during winter, but days are usually of the crisp and bright variety. In summer you can expect lots of hot, hot sun.

the local speciality

They like their food earthy here - that's simple and robust, not covered in mud. So expect to gorge on generous hunks of meat or fish and hearty stews.

the celebrity

They've only got the best rugby player in the world pulling on the local team's shirt. Quite a few of you may prefer to see Dan Carter taking it off on the beach, though.

did you know?

Francois Arago, the physicist and politician who played an integral part in France's abolition of slavery, was born just outside Perpignan in a village called Estagel.

they say

"I had an example of a cosmogonic ecstasy, more powerful than the preceding ones. I had a precise vision of the constitution of the universe." - artist Salvador Dali, who believed that Perpignan station was the centre of the universe after he had a vision there

where to park?

2. Square Bir-Hakeim

You'll feel very French strolling through the broad tree-lined avenues of this garden, which boasts beautiful plants such as the vast and attractive Gingko Biloba and lovely palms. A great way to kick back and relax when you tire of sightseeing.

where to park?

The nearest car park is Wilson Parking in Boulevard Wilson. They charge €0.70 for the first 30 minutes, which rises to €8.90 for 9 hours and €17 for a 24-hour stay.

where to park?

5. The Cathedral of St Jean

Stub out your Gauloise, step out of the sun and take some time to ponder life in the elaborate surrounds of this fine cathedral.

where to park?

You can either park at Parking Parcoville Castillet in Boulevard Wilson or the Parking Republic in Place de la Republique, which charges €1.60 for the first hour and a maximum of €10.60 for a 44-hour stay.

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Local taxi driver Laurent Thomason on car hire in Perpignan

I would definitely recommend hiring a car as we have a very limited public transport network in Perpignan. The entire city centre can be covered on a stroll, so just park your hire car and lose yourself in the heart of Perpignan. The roads are good and traffic is reasonable so when you are ready to go exploring, jump in the car and head for the remote seaside villages and beautiful coastlines - there's no shortage of them!